Lactose and gluten intolerance might have similar symptoms, but they are different conditions. If you suspect something in your diet is making you sick, consult your doctor, who can recommend tests to identify allergies and intolerances. Identifying a food intolerance is a complex task, so don't attempt to treat yourself. Treatments for both conditions involve dietary measures to limit or eliminate problem ingredients.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance occurs when your small intestine fails to produce sufficient lactase, which is a digestive enzyme that breaks down the sugar lactose. Lactose is present in milk, so eating dairy products often causes those with lactose intolerance to experience digestive symptoms such as abdominal bloating and cramps, diarrhea, nausea or gas.
Gluten Intolerance
Gluten intolerance is also known as celiac disease. People who suffer from this condition have an allergic reaction to gluten, a complex of proteins in foods that contain wheat, barley or rye. Part of the body's reaction is to attack the villi in the small intestine. Villi are finger-like protuberances that absorb nutrients. Consequently, damage to villi can lead to malabsorption, nutritional deficiencies and weight loss, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Considerations
Besides long-term damage to villi and ensuing complications, symptoms of celiac disease include abdominal bloating and pain, chronic diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Stools might be pale, fatty or foul-smelling. Some of these symptoms might seem similar to the effects of lactose intolerance, which is why you should discuss digestive problems with your doctor. By yourself, you might have difficulty determining whether you should avoid milk, gluten, or both.
Expert Insight
Adding to the complexity of the diagnosis is the fact that gluten-intolerant people commonly experience temporary lactose intolerance, according to PubMed Health. In other words, it's possible to have a negative reaction to milk and other dairy products, but the underlying cause is actually gluten intolerance. The lactose tolerance usually disappears after treatment begins for gluten intolerance, according to PubMed Health.
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